Page 48 of Wallflower

Me: Thanks…I think. Also, Dare was with me in a classroom, and we were just talking. Not making out.

The girl had winked. "Sure, you were."

She left before I could correct her again, and as the day went on, I realized there were two rumors going around. The video was being talked about for sure, but that little interlude between Dare and I had made the rounds as well.

Estelle even mentioned it in Lit, though she was much nicer about it than anyone else.

"I thought the video was romantic." She shrugged as she took the desk next to me. "You just said how you felt. I don't see why everyone's blowing it so out of proportion."

Jovonte nodded. "Yeah, people get rejected every day—just not as publicly as you did."

Estelle elbowed him in the chest, and he grunted.

"Ignore him," she said. " Jovonte wouldn't know romance if it hit him in the face. He isn't trying to be rude."

"Sorry," he said to me. "I really wasn't."

"It's okay." I sighed. "Trust me, I've heard worse today."

"Speaking of," Estelle said, "I heard a little something-something in the halls before class. And it didn't have anything to do with you and Tyson."

"Oh?" I tried my best to sound innocent. "Well, this is high school. You can't believe everything you hear."

"Yeah, I know," she said. "I also know that my bestie would tell me if anything had happened between her and a certain someone."

"She would," I said slowly. "If there was anything worth telling."

Estelle eyed me speculatively. "Maybe we have a different definition of what that means."

I just shrugged.

"Nice shirt," she said with a smile playing about her lips.

My eyes dropped to the garment in question then came back up to her. "Thanks," I said.

"It's a little big in the shoulders," Estelle went on. "A bit unexpected with the big soccer ball and DHS Varsity written across it, since I remember you saying something about not liking the sport. Still, the blue looks nice. Hey, Jovonte?"

"Yeah baby," he said.

"Weren't you wearing one just like it the other day?"

Jovonte studied the shirt more closely then nodded. "Yep, everyone on the team has one. Coach Kent likes us to wear them on game week to get a little school spirit going. I thought it was only for the players, but I guess your dad got you one, too, huh, Viola?"

I hummed noncommittally, and Estelle's smile grew.

"What's the D.F. stand for?" she asked.

Her face looked curious, but her tone was anything but innocent. Estelle knew perfectly well what the initials stood for but wanted me to admit it. Too bad I wasn't quite ready to go there.

I gave her a flat look. "Dogs Forever."

Estelle nodded. "Oh, that makes sense. And the little #28 right next to it?"

"That's the number of pets I hope to have in the future."

Her laughter sounded like wind chimes as Jovonte's eyes went wide. He'd finally caught onto the fact that I was wearing his buddy's shirt. Awesome.

"Hey," he said, pointing at my chest, "is that—"

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